Make your skin glow

The largest organ of the human body needs a little loving attention to look fabulous.

Beauty was never just skin deep. Modern-day beauaty queens have also clung to this age old adage when it comes to defining beauty. Nor is beauty defined today interms of classical good looks. There are many uncrowned beauty queens the world over who have made the most of their one strong feature be it glossy hair, large eyes or a full, strong mouth. Even Cleopatra was alluring not for her features (historians have described her as snub-nosed, short and dark) but for the aura, the special appeal that she created around her entire persona.

Nothing however sets off classical or even average features, as a smooth, even-toned, youthful skin.

Start early in beauty care:

At 38, if you have the fine lines around your eyes and mouth or the skin on the neck does not seem taut, and there are fine wrinkles in your cleavage that only you know about, relax, these are all natural signs of aging.

Minimising the damage by taking beauty care seriously at an early age in your teens, perhaps is the only difference you could have made. Even if you act now, your afforts will pay and you'll love yourself by the time you are 50.

First and foremost develop a positive attitude, not a facade. Tell yourself you are beutiful and you will feel so. Be positive and curb all those silent beauty killers; Stress, strain,anger,and anxiety.

Giving in to those negative, self defeating emotions goes against the very concept of beauty of keeping the heart and mind pure and clean. Your skin acts as a mirror of your inner state of mind.

Keep away the crow's feet:

Behave in a lady like manner, the old nun at school would admonish us ever so often. Sometimes I wonder what she'd say if i told her that her tireless reminders to not sit slouched in the chair, chin in hand, frowning at a maths equation or at a firend during an argument, are firmly etched commandments in the science of beauty care!

Incidently next time you chew your food from one side, remember the muscles on the other side of your mouth do not get their exercise. Squinting in the sun and puckering up your nose when you laugh cause fine lines to appear on your nese and in the delicate skin around your eyes.

Be conscious of your smile, check in the mirror, to be sure does your skin move towards your temples when you do so? Cultivate a laugh that does not ivite those lines.

Large soft pillows may be comfortable, but after a snooze, you might have noticed lines on your face and neck that only go away after a while. Those lines could become permanent after a afew years! Counter the problem with a baby pillow or a U shaped neck pillow.

Apple for firm skin.

Apples are full of health boosting antioxidants. They are not only good for your body but can also be used for skin protection. The juice of fresh apples tones the skin and provides enzymes that help balance and cleanse the skin. For healthy, glowing skin, apply a homemade apple paste after your regular face mask.

For clear skin:

1/2 apple, sliced
1 tsp honey
1 egg
1 tsp ascorbic acid

Make a fine paste of the above ingredients. Apply it evenly over your face and neck and leave on till it dries. Wash off with luke warm water. Apply this paste twice a week for clear skin.

For smooth skin:

1/2 apple sliced
2 tsp house hold starch
2 tsp warm milk

Mix together all these to make a paste, and apply the paste evenly over your face and neck. Wash it off after 10 minutes. Use regularly for smooth skin.

For Firm skin:

1 egg
1/2 apple sliced
2 tsp sugar
1 tsp honey
1 cup dry oats

Mix together and warm slightly before use. Apply over face and rinse after 15 minutes. Do it once a week.